The Bay (2012)

“The Bay” isn’t your typical lost footage style film; this is a movie where a particular fatal outbreak occurs and as a result, all of the recordings of all kinds are collected and confiscated so the government can cover up the incident. As far as everyone is concerned and is told, warm tide waters and high algae levels were responsible for killing thousands of fish. The real events are revealed over the course of the movie by one of the survivors as she gives an interview to a reporter over Skype three years after the incident. As she explains what happened, you the audience watch the various news reports, cell phone recordings, security cameras, online conversations between an ER doctor and the CDC, and so on. “The Bay” took a popular filming technique and used it in a fresh and exciting way. The best thing about this movie is that there is very little shaky-cam, which means that you won’t feel too motion sick if that kind of thing bothers you.

I appreciate the nature of the film and how it deals about an avoidable environmental disaster without being preachy about it. This movie avoids feeling like a morality lesson because the main tragedy happens in a single day rather than a realistic span of weeks or months, and the results are disturbing and grotesque. Without spoiling anything, I will share that certain realistic decisions concerning local businesses and a lack of government approval or certification have a drastic effect on the bay. After the outbreak begins, there is a poignant scene near the end between the CDC and a Homeland security officer showing an absolute breakdown in communication and a feeling of indifference about the situation at stake.

“It’s just a small town.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s a small town. You have to keep these things in perspective.”

Favorite moment – The video evidence of the aftermath at the hospital, filmed by the lead doctor of the ER.